Apple tree named ‘Bella Rosa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apple tree (Malus domestica) named ‘Bella Rosa’. ‘Bella Rosa’ is a whole plant mutation of the variety ‘Cripps Pink’ and is distinguished by very early full pink-red color over the entire surface of the fruit, its spreading to drooping habit, and its solid flush color pattern.

Latin name of the genus and species:

Botanical classification: Malus domestica.

Variety denomination: The new apple tree variety denomination is ‘Bella Rosa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY:

The present invention is a new and distinct cultivar of apple tree botanically known as Malus domestica and referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bella Rosa’. ‘Bella Rosa’ was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation in a commercial orchard planting of the variety ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,880).

‘Bella Rosa’ was first observed in mid-March in Dover, Tasmania, Australia in 2013, where it was distinguished by its very early pink-red color over the entire fruit surface, even in shaded areas of the tree. ‘Bella Rosa’ is further distinguished from its parent by its solid flush pink-red color and high levels of fruit anthocyanin at 40 days after full bloom. ‘Bella Rosa’ is also distinguished from its ‘Cripps Pink’ parent by its drooping habit.

Asexual reproduction of the ‘Bella Rosa’ was carried out by bud grafting in 2014 and trees of the ‘Bella Rosa’ were planted for additional observation at Lucaston, Tasmania, Australia. ‘Bella Rosa’ has since been fruited through successive asexually propagated generations at Lucaston, Tasmania, Australia and has been observed to remain true to type with the distinguishing characteristics retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘Bella Rosa’ is primarily distinguished from its parent ‘Cripps Pink’ by its very early full pink-red color over the entire surface of the fruit and its solid flush color pattern with its very high levels of fruit anthocyanin on young fruitlets at 40 days after full bloom. ‘Bella Rosa’ is further distinguished by its spreading to drooping habit in comparison to its parent ‘Cripps Pink’ and other similar commercial varieties. These and other distinguishing characteristics are set forth in the tables below.

Under similar growing conditions in Tasmania, Australia, under commercial practice, ‘Bella Rosa’ compares to its parent ‘Cripps Pink’ as described in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Bella Rosa’ to ‘Cripps Pink’ Characteristic ‘Cripps Pink’ ‘Bella Rosa’ Tree vigor Strong Weak to medium Tree habit Upright Drooping One-year old shoot thickness Thick Medium Fruit - area of overcolor Small Large Fruit - intensity of overcolor Light Medium to Dark Leaf - petiole length Short Medium Leaf - petiole anthocyanin Small Large Fruitlet overcolor Absent Large to very large Fruit overcolor area Small Large Fruit - Color pattern Weak stripes with Solid flush only solid flush

A comparison of ‘Bella Rosa’ to ‘PE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,144), the most similar variety of common knowledge, is set forth in Table 2 below:

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘Bella Rosa’ to ‘PE’ Characteristic ‘PE’ ‘Bella Rosa’ Fruit - area of overcolor Very large Large Leaf petiole anthocyanin Very Large Large Leaf blade incisions of Serrate type 1 Serrate type 2 margin upper half One-year old shoot number 97 average per 125 average per 100 of lenticels 100 mm of stem - mm of stem - Medium Medium to many Tree Vigor Strong Medium Tree Habit Upright Drooping One-year old shoot thickness Thick Medium Leaf petiole length Short Medium

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Typical specimens of the tree, fruit and blossoms for the new apple tree variety ‘Bella Rosa’ are shown in the accompanying photographs for a three-year old tree planted on ‘MM106’ rootstock (unpatented). The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 shows petiole length of ‘Bella Rosa’ on the left compared to ‘PE’ on the right;

FIG. 2 shows current season's fresh fruit of ‘Bella Rosa’ (on the top) compared to fruit of ‘Cripps Pink’ (on the bottom), both harvested at maturity from trees of similar age and growing conditions;

FIG. 3 shows current season's fresh fruit of ‘Bella Rosa’ (on the top) compared to fruit of ‘PE’ (on the bottom), both harvested at maturity from trees of similar age and growing conditions;

FIG. 4 shows a tree of ‘Bella Rosa’ in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock;

FIG. 5 shows the spreading and drooping nature of ‘Bella Rosa’ habit for a tree in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock;

FIG. 6 shows a blossom of ‘Bella Rosa’ on a tree in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock; and,

FIG. 7 shows a dormant tree of ‘Bella Rosa’ in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock with spreading and drooping branches.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following-detailed botanical description is based on observations made during the 2020 growing season at Lucaston, Tasmania, Australia of 4-year-old trees planted on ‘MM106’ rootstock (unpatented). The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions and will vary with location and season. The plant and flower quantified measurements and foliage size are expressed as an average of measurements taken from several individual plants of ‘Bella Rosa’ using standard commercial cultural practices. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of ‘Bella Rosa’ may vary from the stated average. All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (5^(TH) edition 2007).

-   Tree:     -   -   Vigor.—Medium.         -   Type.—Ramified, cropping on spurs and long shoots.         -   Habit.—Drooping.         -   Height.—2.2 m.         -   Trunk diameter.—2.55 cm.         -   Bark texture.—Smooth with occasional ridging.         -   Bark color.—Yellow-green 148A on sun exposed side and on             shaded side.         -   Branch.—Fruiting branches located at around 1.1 m above the             graft union.         -   Length.—90 cm.         -   Diameter.—8.5 mm at base.         -   Crotch angle.—Drooping branches on unpruned tree. Branches             on unpruned tree are horizontal to −8.5 degrees.         -   Bark color.—Greyed-red 178A on sun exposed side and             Greyed-orange 165A on shaded side.         -   Lenticel length.—1.1 mm average.         -   Lenticel color.—Greyed-orange 164B.         -   Quantity of lenticels per cm ².—5. -   One-year old shoot:     -   -   Length.—45 cm average.         -   Color.—Greyed-red 178A on sun exposed side and Greyed-orange             165A on shaded side.         -   Pubescence.—Weak to medium on distal end of shoot.         -   Thickness.—4 mm average thickness mid shoot.         -   Internode length.—3.5 cm.         -   Number of lenticels per cm ².—6 to 8 range — average of 125             per 100 mm. -   Flower bud: 6.9 long mm on average.     -   -   Color.—Greyed-purple N187A.         -   Shape.—Elliptic. -   Flowers:     -   -   Diameter of fully open flower.—48.5 mm.         -   Relative position of petal margin.—Free to touching.         -   Quantity of flowers per cluster.—5 to 7 range.         -   Date of beginning of flowering.—8^(th) of October 2017 in             Tasmania.         -   Date of full bloom.—21^(st) of October 2017 in Tasmania.         -   Pollination requirement.—Pollination required by another             diploid variety flowering at similar time. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5 petals per flower.         -   Shape.—Ovate to ellipsoid.         -   Length.—23.7 mm.         -   Width.—13.8 mm.         -   Apex.—Ovoid.         -   Base.—Cuneate to obovate at base.         -   Margin.—Smooth.         -   Texture.—Upper surface — Smooth.         -   Texture.—Lower surface — Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface — White in Color NN155C.         -   Color.—Lower surface — Red-Purple in Color 61B.         -   Pistils.—14.5 mm long; Yellow-Green Color 150C.         -   Stigma.—1.12 mm diameter; Yellow-Green Color 152A.         -   Position of stigma relative to anther.—Same level.         -   Style.—5 Fused and Pubescent at the base; Length 7.95 mm;             Color: Yellow-Green 150C.         -   Ovary.—Pubescent; 2.53 mm diameter; Color Yellow-Green 150C.         -   Anthers.—16 to 18 per flower; Length 2.52 mm; Width 1.74 mm;             Ample pollen, Color Yellow 6D.         -   Pedicel.—Length 35.31 mm; Diameter 1.84 mm; Color:             Red-Purple 59A on sun exposed side; Color Yellow-Green 144B             on shaded side.         -   Sepals.—Quantity 5; Length 8.95 mm; Width: 6.0 mm Color:             Yellow-green 144B with Red-Purple 59A on tip; Recurved shape             with smooth straight margin; Very Pubescent.         -   Flower fragrance.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Length.—9.38 cm.         -   Width.—6.92 cm.         -   Length/width ratio.—1.36.         -   Blade margin.—Serrate Type 1.         -   Shape.—Oval to obtuse.         -   Apex.—Shape: Acute in shape.         -   Base.—Shape: Obtuse in shape.         -   Pubescence.—Description: Lightly pubescent on underside.         -   Color.—Upper surface — Green N137C.         -   Color.—Lower surface — Yellow-green 146B.         -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Outward.         -   Petiole.—Length 37.9 mm; Diameter 1.87 mm; Color:             Greyed-purple 185B.         -   Mid rib.—Greyed-purple 184C to Yellow-green 145D.         -   Leaf vein.—Extending from base of mid rib Greyed-purple 184C             to two thirds of leaf mid vein to leaf tip Yellow-green             145D.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate from mid rib to Reticulate with             smaller veins closer to leaf margins. -   Fruit:     -   -   Quantity per cluster.—5 to 7 per cluster if no thinning             occurs.         -   Diameter.—68 mm.         -   Height.—65 mm.         -   Ratio of height to width.—0.99.         -   General shape in profile.—Cylindrical.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Near center.         -   Ribbing.—Moderate.         -   Crowning at calyx end.—Moderate.         -   Size of eye.—10.9 mm average width, Medium.         -   Aperture of eye.—Mostly closed, occasionally open.         -   Length of sepal.—5.8 mm average length, Medium.         -   Bloom of skin.—Absent or weak.         -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent or weak.         -   Background color of skin.—Yellow-green 150C.         -   Amount of over color.—Large, about 85%.         -   Over color of skin.—Red-purple 60A.         -   Intensity of over color.—Dark.         -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush Only.         -   Amount of russet around stalk cavity.—Low to medium.         -   Amount of russet on cheeks.—Absent or small.         -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Absent or small.         -   Length of stalk.—33.1 mm on average, medium in length.         -   Thickness of stalk.—1.84 mm on average, thin to medium in             width.         -   Stalk color.—Purple N79B.         -   Depth of stalk cavity.—14.2 mm on average.         -   Width of stalk cavity.—32.8 mm on average.         -   Depth of eye basin.—9.8 mm on average.         -   Width of eye basin.—31.4 mm on average.         -   Flesh color.—Yellow 11D.         -   Flesh texture.—Firm and crisp.         -   Aroma.—Fresh.         -   Juiciness.—Ample.         -   Seeds.—Minimum of 1, mostly 2 per cell; 9 per fruit; Acute;             Greyed-orange 167B; Aperture of locules closed or slightly             open. -   Harvest:     -   -   Harvest date.—Time of Eating Maturity — Late season (Apr.             18, 2020 in Tasmania, Australia).         -   Number of picks.—One.         -   Yield.—65 kg from typical three-year-old tree.         -   Disease/insect resistance/susceptibility.—No             resistance/susceptibility noted. Winter hardiness, cold             tolerance, drought and heat tolerance are similar to parent             variety. No unusual hardiness or tolerance noted. -   Market use: Fresh. Observed fruit weight as an average of 10 typical     fruit is 165 grams. Fruit is considered average to large for size.     -   -   Percent soluble solids, (TSS).—15.5% as an average of 10             typical fruit.         -   Titratable acidity.—0.6% as an average of 10 typical fruit.         -   Penetrometer reading.—9.1 kg as an average of 10 typical             fruit. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct apple tree substantially as described and illustrated herein. 